Whiskey hates his leash

[BADWHISKEY]

Im in the proccess of potty training whikey, however he thinks it's play time every time i take him outside. He is only 8 weeks yeterday but boy is he hiper and fast. He is super playfull and it's hard to keep him from runing off. I wanted to start putting him on a leash but he just pulls backwards every time i put it on him. I read that for him to get use to it, i should let him walk around the house with it on. I tried this but he just plays with it and nibbles at it. What should i do, he is still has accidents inside the house, but we are trying hard to potty train him. We where also doing the training mat method but i read that will just confuse him so we decided to get rid of that method. Any advice on this?

 

[Cami]

As far as potty training goes....you have a solid couple of months to work on it!
An 8 week old baby doesn't have any concept yet of where they should go much less when they need to go. Most will be playing... stop suddenly and just go. Keep him on a strict schedule. He will need to go as soon as he wakes up from sleeping or napping, after meals, after play and add in about 2-3 times MORE per hour. The more often he goes outside in the right place and he is given treats and praise for getting it right the faster he will learn. I'd also start NOW with a way for him to alert you that he needs to go. Bell training works great. Get a bell and hang it from the door you use to go outside. Ring the bell every single time you open the door. Eventually he will get curious about the bell and ring it himself (usually curiosity or play at this age). As soon as he rings it open the door and praise!
The leash needs to be one of very lightweight material at his age. Try putting it on him while he is eating. He should be more interested in food than the leash connected to his collar but will still be getting used to the feel of it being connected. Don't give him a chance to play with it meaning if it is on him in the house interact with him with toys so that he again doesn't pay any attention to it. Just letting him walk around with it is just asking for him to show interest in it.

 

[BADWHISKEY]

I'll go ahead and try this, what should i do however when he goes potty, i wand to start showing him to go when i take him out with the leash. Like i mentioned, he is starting to run a lot and is very hipper and hard to settle him down. Im in the process of showing him when it's play time and when it's not. When i put him in the leash he won't to go no mater what. As soon as i take it off he goes. What can you suggest there?

 

[bonkersshe]

In the same boat as Bad Whiskey

I am having the same troubles with Rascal, with one added problem. She is having trouble adapting to her collar, which is very lightweight. I have left it on her for a few days at a time, but she walks sideways, scratches her neck constantly and shakes her head a lot.

She is getting better about going outside to do her "business", although puddles and piles are still a frequent find. If a pile, I show her the pile (not rubbing her nose in it!), tell her "bad girl", take her and the pile outside, put the pile on the ground, show it to her again and tell her "good girl, outside". I tell her outside to get her used to the word (Do you need to go OUTSIDE?)

As for being hyper and wanting to run off, she is beginning to understand commands by voice tone. In the last few days, when she starts to run off I have yelled her name and no and she has stopped and sat down. I immediately praise her and call her to me.

She has also shown a penchant for chasing cars, but she is afraid of the car horns. All my neighbors will give her a toot when they drive by, even when we have her on the leash (which we are introducing slowly because of the collar issue).

She is still not quite sure to make of the ferrets tho!

 

[Cami]

He will go when he has to go....leash or no leash.
He may try to wait you out if you have been taking it off him. At his age though you shouldn't have to wait too long! Just stay patient and keep being persistent.
If he is so uncomfortable while on the leash when it is potty time you could always take him to the preferred potty spot and remove the leash. Put it back on to walk him back inside.

 

[BADWHISKEY]

Thanks for the advice, i'll try this!

 

[JLinz]

Ill be honest...I was not very nice when my dog would pull back on the lead and plant his butt on the ground...He learned very fast that wherever daddy was going...thats where he was going...Im not saying overpower and sling your dog forward, but I had no problem dragging his arse off the floor to follow...He got the hint and when I pick up his lead he rarely plants his butt down...

My dog hated the cold...We live in Pittsburgh, PA its less than 20 degrees most mornings and evenings this time of year...He would go outside and learned rather quickly that the best way into the house was to go to the bathroom...He started by me taking him out and him whining to go in...I figured he was freezing and would take him in and he'd pee on the floor...After about 5 go arounds with that...I decided I wasnt going in till he went...He got the point...He pull at the lead towards the door and Id just hold em there and say Go Pee...Hed squat, pee, then we were back inside...

I refuse to have my dog control me, you really have to take control of the situation with a cool head about yourself and the situation...I never got mad at him when he had an accident...It was my own dumb fault for not taking him out...I just cleaned it up and sprayed it down..

Ive never had a puppy...Let alone a boxer pup...But I can say that hes a wonderful animal and while this has been a lot of work, its a very proud and rewarding experience when you see them catching on...

 

[BADWHISKEY]

thanks.... i really appreciate you opinions and sharing you experiences with me. all this is very helpfull!

 

[Davedbd]

With Tiara she played with the small light leather leash we originally got her and it was a nightmare trying to get her used to it let alone walk on a lead. We eventually bought her a small metal chain instead and she does not seem to bite at it as much at all.
It honestly just takes time and consistency. We let her run around with it on in the house for a while, but I need her to walk on leash now, not when she is ready. I just took her out and walked in the yard. The 1st couple days it was more pulling and begging than walking. But now she goes along with me. She does pull me at times but I have been slowly teaching her to heel. Its not easy and its a struggle. But every day it gets easier and easier.
I know its tough with the snow here in the northeast to go on long walks, so I do what I can. We just put the leash on now and she goes outside. She was eating rabbit poop, so we now always have her on a leash no matter what. No alone romps in the yard for her.
Try the small metal chain leash instead and see how that works out. Tiara was 6 weeks when we got her home. She is now 13 weeks and the improvement is like night and day.
Good luck!